English
Since 2020, 4 different product variants can be distinguished. The distinction consists of the audit intensity and the type of document that is issued. For smaller companies and companies that want to start with the SCL in an accessible way, 2 lighter variants have become available: the SCL Light and the Approved Self Assessment (SCL ASA). Due to the limited audit form, no certificate is issued for the latter two.
For the SCL Light, only a statement is issued with a step indication. For the SCL ASA a certifying institution only issues a document that shows that the correct steps have been followed for a self-assessment, without a step indication.
Would you like to get started with the SCL on your own initiative? Then you determine the product yourself, depending on how thoroughly you want to improve the safety culture within your organization and what you want to demonstrate to your customers, clients and employees.
If you have to meet a specific SCL requirement for a client, for example for a tender, they will indicate which product is required. See, for example, the information page for TenneT or ProRail for more information.
Provided below is a list of the differences. For the full detailed overview, please view the Handbook.
| certificate | year 1 | year 2 | year 3 | SCL Questionnaire to use |
| SCL Original certificate | 100% audit | 100% audit | 100% audit | free choice |
| SCL certificate | 100% audit | follow-up audit 40% | follow-up audit 40% | free choice |
| non-certificate | ||||
| SCL Light statement | 40% audit | check on action plan | check on action plan | Use SAQ Compact or SAQ Extended (choice) |
| Approved Self Assessment | self assessment | check on action plan | check on action plan | SAQ Compact obligated |
A full audit every year. Read through the manual and the certification scheme to understand what is being audited and what requirement is set for each step. Do a self-assessment, for example by using the SAQ Webtool (online questionnaire) and set yourself a goal which step you want to achieve. Engage a certification body to conduct the audit on the desired level and, if successful, to issue the obtained certificate. An audit consists of observing project visits, interviews with employees and management/managing board.
Only the first year a full audit, the 2 subsequent years a 40% audit. With the 40% audit, less time is spent and fewer parts are audited. Read through the manual and the certification scheme, to understand what is audited and what requirement is set for each step. Do a self-assessment, for example by using the SAQ Webtool (online questionnaire) and set yourself a goal which step you want to achieve. Engage a certification body to conduct the audit on the desired step and, if successful, to issue the obtained certificate. An audit consists of observing project visits, interviews with employees and management/managing board.
Only the first year a 40% audit, the 2 subsequent years a check on the action plan. With the 40% audit, less time is spent and fewer parts are audited. When checking the action plan, an auditor makes an inventory of the extent to which you have achieved your ambitions from the previous year. Read through the manual and the certification scheme, to understand what is audited and what requirement is set for each step. Do a self-assessment by using the SAQ Webtool (online questionnaire) and set yourself a goal which step you want to achieve indicatively. Engage a certification body to conduct the audit on the desired step and to issue a statement which step your organization indicatively achieved. An audit consists of observing project visits, interviews with employees and management/managing board.
You only perform a self-assessment using the SAQ Webtool. The web tool helps you determine how many employees per department should complete the questionnaire. You will work on an action plan to achieve ambitions regarding the safety culture (e.g. aspired step or focus areas). At the subsequent audit of the action plan in years 2 and 3, an auditor will assess to what extent you have achieved your ambitions from the previous year. Read through the manual and the certification scheme, to understand what is audited and what requirement is set for each step. Engage a certification body to do the check and issue a document to what extent you have followed the required steps of a self-assessment. An audit consists of a visit to the office and a review of the steps followed, results and action plan.